It is wise, if starting 2bwm like in the later .xinitrc, where we background the wm and ''exec'' a terminal emulator (such as [[rxvt-unicode]]), to immediately make the terminal that maintain the X session unkillable (Super+a by default). It will prevent you from killing this terminal and the X session at the same time.

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It is wise, if starting 2bwm like in the later .xinitrc, where we background the wm and ''exec'' a terminal emulator (such as [[rxvt-unicode]]), to immediately make the terminal that maintain the X session unkillable (Super+a by default). It will diminish the chance of killing this terminal and the X session at the same time.

Putting a window in unkillable mode will also change the outer border colour to make it more noticeable from other normal window. Beware that with some configurations, in urxvt, the outer border will not appear. A user reported the issue to be related to the following line in his ''.Xresources'' (or ''.Xdefaults'') file:

Putting a window in unkillable mode will also change the outer border colour to make it more noticeable from other normal window. Beware that with some configurations, in urxvt, the outer border will not appear. A user reported the issue to be related to the following line in his ''.Xresources'' (or ''.Xdefaults'') file:

URxvt.depth: 32

URxvt.depth: 32

Revision as of 19:10, 11 May 2013

Warning: 2bwm is still in alpha stage and should be used cautiously. At the moment, 2bwm is only for advanced users.

2bwmAUR is a fast floating WM, with the particularity of having 2 borders, written over the XCB library and derived from mcwm written by Michael Cardell. In 2bwm everything is accessible from the keyboard but a pointing device can be used for move, resize and raise/lower. The name has recently changed from mcwm-beast to 2bwm.

Installation

2bwmAUR can be installed from the AUR with or without using an AUR helper. Although the installation process can be automatic, if directly building from the AUR, it is highly recommended to read and edit the "config.h" file in the source directory.

Configuration

Starting 2bwm

2bwm generally starts from a script, either from startx or from a login manager such as xdm.

If it starts from the console, a .xinitrc file is needed. Here's a complete example:

2bwm used to have startup options. They have been removed because editing the config file was more convenient.

Using 2bwm

After the launch of 2bwm, a mouse cursor, a background, and a terminal will be the only thing on the screen (as specified in the .xinitrc). To open a terminal, using the default configuration, hit Super+Enter (Super Key aka Windows key/Mod4). Use the terminal as desired, for example to start a program with program_name &, however it is easier and more convenient to use a menu to launch programs, for instance dmenu or 9menu (available in the aur).

General commands

Super+Ctrl+q – exit 2bwm

Super+Ctrl+r – restart 2bwm

Super+w – start the menu

Super+Enter – start a terminal

Super+Arrows (+shift) – move the cursor (with shift fast).

Window controls

Using the Super Key combined with one of the key below on a specific focused window:

q – close window.

Tab or Shift+Tab – go to the next window in the current workspace window ring.

f – fix a window, making it visible on all workspaces (toggles).

a – make a window unkillable by Super+q (toggles).

r – raise or lower (toggles).

i – iconify (or hide) a window from the display.

Move, resize and teleport a window

Using the Super Key combined with one of the key below on a specific focused window:

x – maximize (toggles).

m – maximize vertically (toggles).

Shift+m – maximize horizontally (toggles).

Shift+H (+Ctrl) – resize left (with Ctrl slow).

Shift+J (+Ctrl) – resize down (with Ctrl slow).

Shift+K (+Ctrl) – resize up (with Ctrl slow).

Shift+L (+Ctrl) – resize right (with Ctrl slow).

Home – grow keeping aspect.

End – shrink keeping aspect.

h (+Ctrl) – move left (with Ctrl slow)

j (+Ctrl) – move down (with Ctrl slow)

k (+Ctrl) – move up (with Ctrl slow)

l (+Ctrl) – move right (with Ctrl slow)

y – move to the upper left corner of monitor.

u – move to the upper right corner of monitor.

b – move to the lower left corner of monitor.

n – move to the lower right corner of monitor.

g – move to the center of monitor.

Shift+y/Shift+u/Shift+b/Shift+n – move to the left/right/bottom/top while maxvert/maxhor and half max horizontal/vertical.

Workspaces

0-9 – go to workspace n, 0-9.

Shift+0-9 – send to workspace n.

c or v – go to next/previous workspace.

, or . – move window to previous/next monitor.

Mouse controls

Note that all functions activated from the keyboard work on the currently focused window regardless of the position of the mouse cursor. Of course, changing workspaces has nothing to do with the focused window.

You may change the keyboard mappings from config.h.

Tips & Tricks

Starting 2bwm over a terminal

It is wise, if starting 2bwm like in the later .xinitrc, where we background the wm and exec a terminal emulator (such as rxvt-unicode), to immediately make the terminal that maintain the X session unkillable (Super+a by default). It will diminish the chance of killing this terminal and the X session at the same time.
Putting a window in unkillable mode will also change the outer border colour to make it more noticeable from other normal window. Beware that with some configurations, in urxvt, the outer border will not appear. A user reported the issue to be related to the following line in his .Xresources (or .Xdefaults) file:

URxvt.depth: 32

Setting the depth to any value smaller than 32 fixes the issue. Note that you can also omit the line.

Get the current workspace using a script

Easier to remember outer border colors

You can use this trick to remember the meaning of outer border colors by setting e.g. "fixed" to blue, "unkillable" to red, and "fixed + unkillable" to purple (when you mix blue and red, you get purple).

Top left squares

If you put borders[0] negative, the outer border will turn into a square. The colors that you have set for the outer borders will still be visible in the square.